Entertainment issue featuring Alan Walker and HYDE from legendary Japanese rock group L'Arc-en-Ciel.
HYDE: As I mentioned earlier, the difference with the Japanese audience is quite noticeable. But it doesn't mean that Japanese concerts aren't good; it's just that Japanese fans seem to really listen to and feel the music more deeply. They prefer experiencing the music over just shouting. Because of the language barrier, I try to speak in the local language as much as possible. I often do some last-minute studying to learn greetings like 'Ola' or other simple phrases to connect with the audience in their native language.
FUSION: Could HYDE share any stories about challenges and difficult experiences encountered during overseas live performances?
HYDE: There have been many experiences. While touring on the bus, it broke down and stopped, we got stuck at the site for a while. Another episode is when I woke up to find my hotel room flooded because I fell asleep after running a bath -I was just so tired. And another one is when there were extremely many fans that showed up that caused a panic, and the riot police had to be called, during a concert in Chile. Another time was we've also had power outages during our live shows, where the sound would suddenly cut out, except for my microphone. In the moment, the audience sang along with us, which was both fun and memorable. After all these negative experiences seemingly often turn into great memories.
FUSION: What are the essential items that HYDE always ensures to have for his live performances, both in Japan and overseas?
HYDE: The humidifier. Normally, I don't really take care of my throat but I think dryness is the worst thing for my throat during my sleep. So I use a humidifier when go to bed.